Jason A. Jarrett

The ARCA/ReMax Series is gearing up for Salem Speedway, less than 10 days until the drivers are back on track at the greatest half mile in the country.  They go from the high banks of Daytona International to the high, slick banks of Salem.  There are drivers that hate it and there are drivers that love it.  The main thing:  it will be exciting.

The points will start to take shape since there will be guys that were running Daytona that will not be at Salem.  There season will start to kick into gear after the break between Daytona and now.  ARCA will have a week off after Salem before they head to Rockingham and Talladega but everyone knows there cars must be ready by the time they get to Salem.  Everyone will have some work to do after Salem but the teams that can have a good points day at the Kentuckian Ford Dealers 200 will put themselves in a much better position at least for the next few weeks than the other teams.

Salem Speedway is tough on equipment, tough on the wallet, and tough on the drivers.  I am sure the place is not getting any smoother so it will be rougher than ever on equipment.

Look for plenty of cautions but with the amount of good cars out there now there will be plenty of fast cars as well.  Qualifying is usually tight there but the driver with the best set up that stays off of the wall, and keeps a cool head will come out on top.  Or, at least close to the top.

This race is not scheduled to be on television, which is a shame, so if you are in the area, or anywhere close, you should go to the famed track to watch the ARCA/ReMax Series race on Sunday April 5.

Yesterday I read and article on www.racingforthewin.com that addressed some of the issues that ARCA, the sanctioning body, were facing when it comes to finding a television deal.  The most valid point that this article made was that a television deal has not been in place because ARCA has to buy the airtime and other sanctioning bodies get paid to air their races.  Well, I know that some of the stuff I watch on television is in the exact same position as ARCA when it comes to having to pay for the airtime.  I am sure it is difficult to obtain sponsorship for the television deal so it can offset the costs involved with paying for the airtime and production, but this series deserves just as much TV time as many of the other racing series that I see racing on television.

I think ARCA may even be in a contract year for series title sponsorship.  It seems like I read or heard that ReMax was not renewing their contract beyond 2009 and if that is true this may be the perfect opportunity to include the airtime and production costs in the proposals to the new potential series sponsors.  I am sure Mark Gundrum and everyone working on the marketing of the series has tried that and it is never as easy as it seems just to throw the TV deal in with the title sponsorship package.  But, if it is a contract year the television deal should be a major point when it comes to signing a new deal.

Maybe I don't know enough about it but is there an internet channel or site that would be willing to work out a deal with the people at ARCA?  Take a step back to the days of filming the race and having the announcers go into the studio and add in the commentary and play the race on the internet the following week.  At least people would know when and where to watch each week.  Plus, I don't think people really care if the races are live or not.  Live would be the best but I know from experience that I would still watch if it were tape delayed or put on the internet to view it later.  What would the possibilities of paying to view it on the internet?  Sponsors may be more interested in an internet campaign if the site carries enough unique visitors, which I am sure ArcaRacing.com has a good viewership which could be increased with fans knowing that they could view the races right on the sight.  Again, I am sure everyone at ARCA that is working on the television package has explored all of the options that could make sense for them and any potential sponsors.

I guess my frustration comes from the fact that ARCA has some good teams and drivers and probably the best equipment the series has ever seen and it doesn't have a solid television deal.  There have to be some sponsors out there that have been priced out of NASCAR's top 3 divisions.  There has to be some value in the fact that ARCA races on many of the same speedways as NASCAR's top division.  

Hopefully there is a company out there that will partner with ARCA so we can all enjoy watching some good racing.  I know races like this year's Daytona race don't prove my point but let's watch a few of the short tracks and other races before we pass judgment.